Wild Iris Books enjoys support from community, moves to new location

Published: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 4:16 p.m.

Two months ago, Cheryl Calhoun and Erica Merrell thought their store's 20th anniversary would be its last.

Facts

How to help

The “$20 For 20 Years” campaign in support of Wild Iris Books continues at blog.wildirisbooks.com/support/20-for-20-years, or visit the store at 802 W. University Ave. until Dec. 22. For more information, call 375-7477.

With a 50 percent increase in rent and the closing of the in-store cafe that had shared the store's expenses, the owners of Wild Iris Books found themselves shouldering costs they said they simply could no longer afford.

"There was nothing else to be found under the counters or in the couch cushions. Everything was pretty dry," said Merrell, who also works full-time as a sales administrator for B&B Office Systems. "We had that moment where we sat across from each other and said out loud that maybe we have to let it go."

But just when the women thought it was time to give up, supporters showed them that they wouldn't let Gainesville's feminist bookstore go so easily.

"What we decided at that point was this is too important of an institution in Gainesville to make a decision to close it without putting it out to the

community and getting the community input," said Calhoun, who also is a full-time computer networking professor at Santa Fe College.

Their idea was to find 1,000 Gainesville supporters willing to donate $20, thus giving the store a fighting chance.

Its "$20 For 20 Years" campaign has raised more than $4,000, with donations coming from online and in person.

"The next couple of weeks (after launching the campaign) people were just walking in the front door handing us $20 and saying ‘Please don't go. Please don't go. We can't lose you,' " Calhoun said.

They also came in with advice. One customer suggested a new location with one-third of the overhead expenses and about a third of the 1,500-square-foot space the store currently occupies.

If it meant keeping the store open, it was a step they were willing to take, Calhoun said. The store will be moving. Its last day at 802 W. University Ave. is Dec. 22.

The store will move to a space that shares a courtyard with the Citizens Co-Op and the Civic Media Center off South Main Street and Southeast Fifth Avenue.

Calhoun and Merrell said they hope to be in the new downtown location by February.

Wild Iris Books, which the owners say is one of about 12 remaining feminist bookstores in the U.S., sells books and locally-made products such as handmade soaps and jewelry. The store's inventory includes books about feminist and LGBTQ issues, sustainability and metaphysical topics, as well as a wide range of independent novels.

But the store's owners say customers find it is more than a place for books.

"Many of them will walk into this space because they're exploring who they are," Calhoun said. "Maybe they're away from home for the first time in college, or maybe they're still in high school, and they're trying to find that space where they feel comfortable about themselves, and they find a space for empowerment."

The volunteer-run store also has been a place for students and at-risk teens to gain work experience, she said.

In addition to selling books, the store and its affiliated nonprofit, Friends of Wild Iris, host regular events such as feminist knitting group meetings and monthly open-mic sessions.

Merrell said the store's volunteer team has doubled to about a dozen people since the "$20 For 20 Years" campaign began.

Jessica Lancia, a 29-year-old University of Florida graduate student, became a volunteer in October when she heard that the store was at risk of closing. She said she has been a regular customer for three years.

Lancia, who studies feminist history, said the store gave her a place to make new friends when she moved to Gainesville from South Carolina.

"This was where I always felt like I could have a good conversation and feel like I was in a safe, welcoming environment," she said. "So it has a very special place in my heart."

She said the store helps to break down society's "misconceived notions" of feminism.

"It allows us to really go beyond the terminology and to really explore the issues that matter to women — and really to men — around the country and around the world," Lancia said.

"I feel like all of the pieces are in play, and they're really close to coming together, but we are going to need to raise some additional funding to get us to that point," Calhoun said.

She said she has seen at least six local bookstores close in the past five years, but believes Wild Iris' growing online selection and the new Kobo eReaders the store offers are ways the store can stay competitive if given the chance. The owners also plan to completely refresh their in-store inventory at the new location.

Merrell said she is humbled by the recent outpouring of support from the community.

"We both work outside jobs. We have families," she said. "And we really needed to know if we were sacrificing for something that people wanted to see continue, and the answer was a very loud and supportive ‘yes.' "

<p>Two months ago, Cheryl Calhoun and Erica Merrell thought their store's 20th anniversary would be its last.</p><p>With a 50 percent increase in rent and the closing of the in-store cafe that had shared the store's expenses, the owners of Wild Iris Books found themselves shouldering costs they said they simply could no longer afford.</p><p>"There was nothing else to be found under the counters or in the couch cushions. Everything was pretty dry," said Merrell, who also works full-time as a sales administrator for B&B Office Systems. "We had that moment where we sat across from each other and said out loud that maybe we have to let it go."</p><p>But just when the women thought it was time to give up, supporters showed them that they wouldn't let Gainesville's feminist bookstore go so easily.</p><p>"What we decided at that point was this is too important of an institution in Gainesville to make a decision to close it without putting it out to the</p><p>community and getting the community input," said Calhoun, who also is a full-time computer networking professor at Santa Fe College.</p><p>Their idea was to find 1,000 Gainesville supporters willing to donate $20, thus giving the store a fighting chance.</p><p>Through word of mouth, flyers, Facebook posts and email campaigns, the word spread that Wild Iris needed help. </p><p>Its "$20 For 20 Years" campaign has raised more than $4,000, with donations coming from online and in person. </p><p>"The next couple of weeks (after launching the campaign) people were just walking in the front door handing us $20 and saying 'Please don't go. Please don't go. We can't lose you,' " Calhoun said.</p><p>They also came in with advice. One customer suggested a new location with one-third of the overhead expenses and about a third of the 1,500-square-foot space the store currently occupies.</p><p>If it meant keeping the store open, it was a step they were willing to take, Calhoun said. The store will be moving. Its last day at 802 W. University Ave. is Dec. 22. </p><p>The store will move to a space that shares a courtyard with the Citizens Co-Op and the Civic Media Center off South Main Street and Southeast Fifth Avenue.</p><p>Calhoun and Merrell said they hope to be in the new downtown location by February. </p><p>Wild Iris Books, which the owners say is one of about 12 remaining feminist bookstores in the U.S., sells books and locally-made products such as handmade soaps and jewelry. The store's inventory includes books about feminist and LGBTQ issues, sustainability and metaphysical topics, as well as a wide range of independent novels.</p><p>But the store's owners say customers find it is more than a place for books.</p><p>"Many of them will walk into this space because they're exploring who they are," Calhoun said. "Maybe they're away from home for the first time in college, or maybe they're still in high school, and they're trying to find that space where they feel comfortable about themselves, and they find a space for empowerment."</p><p>The volunteer-run store also has been a place for students and at-risk teens to gain work experience, she said.</p><p>In addition to selling books, the store and its affiliated nonprofit, Friends of Wild Iris, host regular events such as feminist knitting group meetings and monthly open-mic sessions.</p><p>Merrell said the store's volunteer team has doubled to about a dozen people since the "$20 For 20 Years" campaign began.</p><p>Jessica Lancia, a 29-year-old University of Florida graduate student, became a volunteer in October when she heard that the store was at risk of closing. She said she has been a regular customer for three years.</p><p>Lancia, who studies feminist history, said the store gave her a place to make new friends when she moved to Gainesville from South Carolina.</p><p>"This was where I always felt like I could have a good conversation and feel like I was in a safe, welcoming environment," she said. "So it has a very special place in my heart."</p><p>She said the store helps to break down society's "misconceived notions" of feminism.</p><p>"It allows us to really go beyond the terminology and to really explore the issues that matter to women — and really to men — around the country and around the world," Lancia said.</p><p>"I feel like all of the pieces are in play, and they're really close to coming together, but we are going to need to raise some additional funding to get us to that point," Calhoun said.</p><p>She said she has seen at least six local bookstores close in the past five years, but believes Wild Iris' growing online selection and the new Kobo eReaders the store offers are ways the store can stay competitive if given the chance. The owners also plan to completely refresh their in-store inventory at the new location.</p><p>Merrell said she is humbled by the recent outpouring of support from the community.</p><p>"We both work outside jobs. We have families," she said. "And we really needed to know if we were sacrificing for something that people wanted to see continue, and the answer was a very loud and supportive 'yes.' "</p>